Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-232) and index

pt. 1. -- Concerns about exercise and reproduction -- Controversy over exercise during pregnancy -- Early animal experiments -- Attitudes toward exercising during pregnancy -- Origins of the controversy -- The stimulus for research -- Summary -- Unexpected benefits of exercising during pregnancy -- The heart and circulatory system -- Lung and placental gas transport -- Body temperature and sweating -- Metabolic and hormonal responses -- Muscle, ligament, and bone -- Summary -- pt. 2. Impact of exercise on reproductive outcome -- Exercise, fertility, and early pregnancy -- The confounder problem -- Fertility concerns -- Potential early pregnancy problems -- Summary -- Exercise, premature labor, and fetal growth -- Physical stress, fetal growth, and pregnancy length -- Regular exercise and premature birth -- Effects of regular exercise on the baby's growth -- Summary -- Exercise, breast-feeding, and infant growth -- How exercise affects milk production -- Maternal weight loss while breast-feeding -- Breast-feeding and infant growth -- Effects of exercise during lactation on infant growth -- Summary -- Maternal benefits of regular exercis -- Maternal weight gain and fat accumulation -- Maternal discomfort and injury -- Labor and delivery -- Pregnancy complications -- Maternal fitness and physical performance -- Subtle benefits -- Long-term outcome -- Summary -- Benefits of maternal exercise for the baby -- Baby's physical responses to maternal exercise -- Baby's condition during labor -- Neonatal condition -- Why babies benefit from maternal exercise -- Long-term outcome -- Summary -- pt. 3. Exercise prescription and monitoring -- Principles for exercise prescription -- Who needs an exercise prescription? -- The right amount of exercise -- Guidelines for developing an exercise program -- Dos and don'ts -- Contraindications to exercise -- Summary -- Preconception and early pregnancy exercise -- Four elements for successful conception -- Physiological function before conception -- Physiological function in early pregnancy -- Contraindications to exercise -- Beginning exercisers -- Recreational athletes -- Competitive athletes -- Needs of other exercising women -- Summary -- Mid- and late pregnancy exercise -- Physiological function in midpregnancy -- Physiological function in late pregnancy -- Contraindications to exercise -- Prescribing exercise -- Modifying the training regimen -- Summary -- Postpartum exercise -- Physiological changes during lactation and the postpartum period -- Spontaneous patterns of exercise performance after the birth -- First six weeks after the birth

Based on case studies of women who exercised regularly before, during, and after pregnancy, this resource examines the effects of exercise on women and their children. This broad and detailed resource lays to rest the controversies surrounding pregnancy and exercise, shedding new light on the positive interactions of exercise, health, fitness, and pregnancy. This guide enables both expecting mothers and health professionals to develop rational, objective, and individualized approaches to exercise and pregnancy care. Also discussed is the debate surrounding the prescription of strenuous exercise during the process of carrying, birthing, and nursing a baby

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